September 17, 2016

The Room Where It Happened

I was so proud and humbled to be in the room where it happened….representing (RED) at the fifth Replenishment session for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria in Montreal this weekend. Seated among representatives of the world’s pledging governments, and private sector contributors, I announced (RED)’s commitment of a further $100 million during the pledging session. On the back of this, the Gates Foundation announced today that it is matching this commitment with $50 million. (RED) has already delivered $360 million which has helped 70 million people. This new money will bring (RED)’s total target to $500 million. When I think that the engine that drives this is a small team of 20 people in New York, it blows me away. None of this happens without our partners.

But the most important partners are the moms who are getting access to the 30 cent a day medication which is not only helping them access life and pursuit of a livelihood but prevents the transmission of the deadly virus to their unborn babies. This is a hugely significant point – not just for the obvious impact of ensuring that kids are healthy but this simple medical protocol has driven the number of babies born every day with HIV from 1200 since (RED) started to 400 a day now. By 2020, we have an opportunity to make sure that no babies are born with HIV…a big milestone in the fight to end AIDS by 2030. And, we’re determined to be in the room when that happens!